Nagkakaisang inaprubahan ng Kamara sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang isang panukala na magtatatag ng isang vaccine and virology institute na mangunguna sa depensa ng bansa laban sa public health emergencies tulad ng Covid-19 pandemic.

Nakatanggap ang House Bill (HB) No.6452 ng 216 affirmative votes sa pamamagitan ng nominal voting sa plenary session, Lunes, Disyembre 5.

Inihayag ni Deputy Speaker at Ilocos Sur 2nd district Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan, na namuno sa plenary session, na walang negatibong boto o abstention sa panukala.

Pangunahing inakda ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez, ipinag-uutos ng HB No.6452 ang paglikha ng Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP) na pangunahing tumutok sa mga pangunahing aplikasyon ng agham at teknolohiya sa pagbuo ng mga bakuna para sa mga virus at iba pang mga pathogen.

VP Sara, tahasang iginiit na hindi niya binoto si Romuadlez

“What we learned from the last pandemic is that if a health crisis is in a scale that crosses international borders, we have to act fast and rely on our own resources. We need to respond to it effectively. A virology and vaccine institute can help us stop a deadly virus in its tracks,” ani Romualdez.

“I also want to express appreciation to members of the House of Representatives for fast tracking the deliberations on an urgent measure that is considered a priority legislation by the administration of President Ferdinand [“Bongbong”] Marcos Jr.,” dagdag ng kinatawan ng Leyte sa Kamara.

Ang panukalang batas ay bahagi ng Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) ng Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Si Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez at Jude Acidre ay nagsilbing co-authors ng panukalang batas.

Ellson Quismorio